5 world-class forwards yet to score in the 2021-22 season

Twenty days have passed since the conclusion of the summer transfer window, and we are well underway into the 2021-22 season. Things are slowly starting to take shape with all the top European leagues passing their fifth match week. Most new signings have had ample time to settle into their new environments, with managers looking to lock in the squads they intend to use.

How are things looking up in the 2021-22 season so far

Predictably, the Premier League turned out to be the biggest spenders in Europe, with a cumulative transaction fee of €1.6 billion. At the time of writing, Chelsea lead the proceedings in England with 13 points out of a possible 15. Coincidentally, Liverpool flaunt an identical record, with similar scorelines in all five of their games. Arsenal, who racked up the most exorbitant transfer bill (£149.04 million) this summer, languish in 13th place, having lost their three opening games.

Elsewhere, Real Madrid have started the season on fire, with Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior blazing through opposition defences. While Los Blancos comfortably occupy the top spot, Barcelona sit in 10th place, having only played three games so far. Maintaining tradition, Inter, Bayern Munich and PSG lead their respective leagues at the end of five match days.

With so much happening across the continent at the same time, the struggles of some notable superstars have inexplicably gone under the radar. Two months into the 2021-22 season, certain players are yet to lace up their scoring boots.

With that notion on our minds, let's take a look at 5 world-class forwards yet to score a goal in the ongoing season:

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#5 Federico Chiesa (Juventus)

Chiesa hasn't scored a goal in three outings for Juventus

Following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure, Juventus have faced significant hardships in getting themselves in line to fight for the Scudetto this season. The Old Lady currently occupy 18th place in Serie A, having failed to secure a single win in their opening four games.

Part of the problem at the Allianz Stadium is Massimiliano Allegri's failure to select a dominant system for the team that brings out the best in his most prized assets. No player other than Federico Chiesa has suffered more from this issue, with the Italian prodigy being deployed at three different positions in as many games.

Due to the ongoing chaos, Chiesa has failed to find the back of the net even once in the 2021-22 season so far. Contrary to his debut campaign with Juventus, which saw the 23-year-old forward score 15 goals, Chiesa is yet to produce anything worthwhile. However, Chiesa has only clocked 100 minutes so far this season. With more involvement in the coming weeks, the Italian will certainly be looking to break his duck soon.

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#4 Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)

Griezmann recently made his second debut for Atletico

At the center of one of the most unexpected deadline day transfers in recent history, Antoine Griezmann made a shocking return to Atletico Madrid from Barcelona. Having signed for the Blaugrana in 2019, Griezmann signed on the dotted line for Atletico this summer with just hours remaining in the transfer window.

For a transfer fee as massive as €120m, Culers all around the globe expected Griezmann to score a bucket load of goals. Instead, the Frenchman could only manage a mediocre tally of 35 goals in 102 appearances for Barcelona. While he did show his class in limited quantities at Camp Nou, his output was nowhere near justifiable against his hefty price tag.

Griezmann has started the 2021-22 season in similar fashion, contributing to absolutely no goals in six outings so far. Having played three games apiece for Barcelona and Atletico, the 30-year-old forward is yet to break the duck. Atletico have a €40m obligation to buy Griezmann at the end of this season and the La Liga champions will hope the France international can be among the goals at the earliest.

Check Out: Antoine Griezmann Net Worth

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#3 Jadon Sancho (Manchester United)

Sancho has failed to impress the United faithful

At €85m, Jadon Sancho is the most expensive signing of the 2021-22 season with zero goals to his name. Manchester United finally acquired their man after two years of relentless pursuit, for a gargantuan fee no less. In the process, United finally put an end to one of the most arduous transfer sagas of recent times.

However, the talented youngster is taking his sweet time to settle into life in Manchester. Despite playing 237 minutes for the Red Devils, Sancho hasn't been able to register a single goal so far. A masterful dribbler at his core, the English prodigy has lacked the confidence to take a leading role at his new club.

Although Ole Gunnar Solskjær continues to rally behind his latest acquisition, the fact remains that United have spent sumptuous amounts of money to land the 21-year-old. Considering the insane competition in the United squad following the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sancho needs to find the back of the goal soon. Otherwise, he could fall down the pecking order.

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#2 Eden Hazard (Real Madrid)

Hazard has struggled for fitness at Madrid

Widely regarded as one of the most disappointing Real Madrid signings of the 21st century, Eden Hazard's stint in Spain has been nothing short of a nightmare so far. In 48 appearances for Los Blancos, Hazard has managed to register a paltry five goals and nine assists.

Purchased for a record-breaking fee of €115m in 2019, the Belgian international has failed miserably to hit the ground running at the Bernabeu. Due to two injury-riddled seasons with Real Madrid, Hazard has become a shadow of what he was at Chelsea.

The 114-time capped Belgian international was practically undroppable at Stamford Bridge, firing the Blues to numerous titles. His exceptional outings in his last season with Chelsea, which saw him produce 21 goals and 17 assists, compelled Madrid to fork out more than €100m for his services.

At the time of writing, Hazard remains without a goal in the 2021-22 season, having played five games for Real Madrid.

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#1 Lionel Messi (PSG)

Messi is still without a goal this season

The whole world watched in complete consternation when Barcelona confirmed that Lionel Messi would be leaving Camp Nou after 21 magical years. In a matter of days, PSG announced that La Pulga would be joining the Parisians in a transfer that absolutely no one could've predicted.

The idea of seeing Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe line up side by side seemed unfathomable to many, even after his signing was confirmed. With undoubtedly the most feared trio in the world in their ranks, PSG were expected to blow past opponents with relative ease.

Nevertheless, after three appearances, Lionel Messi is yet to score his first goal for the French giants. He has inexplicably failed to trouble the scoreline of the matches he has featured in so far. In fact, the first game that the fabled trio started together ended up being an insipid draw.

With Barcelona struggling without their talisman, doubts of Messi sharing a similar fate without his former club are starting to attain some genuine buzz.

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